Gerhard shows interest

Former coach of Bangladesh national hockey team Gerhard Peter Rach has recently showed his interest to take the team's charges again even though Pakistani coach Naveed Alam has been at the helm since July last year and his contract has been extended up to June 2014.
The German was at the helm of the national team from 2009 to 2010 and under his tutelage Bangladesh's performance was disappointing in all the three international tournaments – a fifth-place finish in the Asian Games Qualifiers at home, eighth position in the Asian Games proper and third position in the 2010 South Asian Games.
However, Gerhard gave some of the national players an opportunity to play in domestic competitions of Germany, Italy and Austria.
“Yes, he (Gerhard) talked to me over phone recently and then placed an application officially on Saturday to consider his proposal,” said Wing Commander Rafiul Huq, representative of Bangladesh Hockey Federation (BHF) president Air Marshal Enamul Bari yesterday.
Huq said that he would place it before the next Executive Committee meeting, which would take a decision regarding the proposal of Gerhard.  
However, BHF general secretary Khaza Rahmatullah declined about receiving any such proposal and said that they would evaluate the performance of Naveed in the upcoming Asian Games Qualifiers before deciding whether to extend his tenure or look for a new coach.
Meanwhile, the game's governing body may run the national camp without the players who are not available due to the Club Cup and the Premier Division Hockey League.
“Of the 66 selected players, some 26 to 27 players will be playing in the Club Cup tournament and then participate in the Premier Division League, but we want to run the national camp with the available players as soon as coach Naveed returns from Pakistan,” said BHF member and selector Rafiqul Islam Kamal.